Verges & Pollinators
In December Libby Scott, Jo Aris and I met with Haltwhistle's Town Clerk, Susan Saunders, Cllr. G. Ridley and three representatives from NCC to discuss the options for managing Haltwhistle's verges to benefit biodiversity. It was a wide ranging discussion but focussed on the verges along Avenue St Meen. NCC, as the contractor, was sympathetic to our aims and had suggestions as to how they might manage the verges to meet such objectives. However, at the next town council meeting, when considering these suggestions, it was agreed only to trial wildlife-friendly verge management over the blue bridge down the west end rather than along Avenue St Meen. Although it was not made explicit I think it is reasonable to assume that the Council is worried about being accused of 'not caring for the town', 'neglecting things', or 'letting the place get untidy'. We have more educational work to do, we still need to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the plight of bees, and other insect pollinators, so that the voices of those speaking up for biodiversity are more numerous and more strident than those wanting monocultural, manicured green spaces.